Last week, United kept those doubting the wisdom of appointing David Moyes as their manager at bay by advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals and seeing off West Ham on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP
United gave their flatlining season an injection of life by beating Olympiakos last week to reach the Champions League quarter-finals and followed up by winning 2-0 at West Ham United in the league on Saturday.
Wayne Rooney scored both goals at West Ham and he says that the 3-0 win over Olympiakos has helped to lift the mood around the club.
“I thought we played some really good stuff, moved the ball well and counter-attacked really well, so we’re really pleased with the win,” he said of the success at Upton Park.
“The Olympiakos game gave us a big lift in confidence and belief in ourselves.
“This was a good result for us going into the derby, so we’re looking forward to an exciting game and hopefully we’ll get a good result.”
United are 11 points adrift of the Champions League qualifying places, but the consolation of a Europa League berth remains well within their reach.
The prospect of a Champions League quarter-final against holders Bayern Munich, meanwhile, has added spice to a season that had appeared to be drifting into oblivion.
Meanwhile, Manuel Pellegrini’s City remain the side most likely to depose Chelsea at the top of the table and the trip to Old Trafford is the first of their three games in hand on Jose Mourinho’s side.
City’s 5-0 demolition of Fulham on Saturday left them six points behind the London club in third place, with Liverpool two points above them having played two games more.
The League Cup winners therefore remain in control of their own destiny and goalkeeper Joe Hart says the players are not afraid to admit that the title is within their grasp.
“The fans, players, and staff — everyone needs to pull each other through if we want to get over the line first,” he said.
“We still have the chance to do something really special and do something this club hasn’t done for 44 years by winning two trophies in one season.
“So we need to press on and try and create a bit of history.”
Arsenal in damage control mode
Arsenal will try to recover from a 6-0 defeat by Chelsea last weekend – a humiliating way to mark Arsene Wenger’s 1,000th match in charge of the Gunners – at home to Swansea. The latter are only four points above the relegation zone following a 3-2 loss to Everton.
But even a win over the Welsh club will not answer the questions about Arsenal’s fragility against major opponents and Wenger’s future in north London.
“What is important is to give a response on Tuesday night and that is it,” said Wenger, whose side have also been thrashed 5-1 at Liverpool and 6-3 at Manchester City this season.
Another match will see sixth-placed Everton continue their quest for European football away to Newcastle.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2014.
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